Block or base for holding plates from which printed impressions may be taken.



Patented Mar. 25; I902.

- S. M. WEATHERLY. BLGCK-OR B ASE FOR HOLDING PLATES FROM WHICH PRINTED IMPRESSIONS MAY BE TAKEN.

WITNESSESS' N0. 695,977. Patented Mar. 25, I902.

v s. m. WEATHERLY. BLUCK'OFI BASE FOR HOLDING PLATES FROM WHICH PRINTED IMPRESSIONS MAY BE TAKEN. I

(Application filed S ept. 11, 1900.

(No Model.) 2 Sheejs-Shaet 2. I

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fifmgwon BY I TINTTnn STaTns SIDNEY M. \VEATHERLY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

BLOCK OR BASE FOR HOLDlNG PLATES FROM WHICH PRINTED IMPRESSIONS MAYBE TAKEN.

part, of Letters atent No. 695,977, dated March 25, 1902.

Application filed September 11. 1900. tieriai No. 29,691. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, SIDNEY M. \VEATHERLY, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Blocks or Bases for Holding Plates from \Vhich Printed Impressions May be Taken, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to furnish a base for supporting and holding stereotype, electrotype, and other plates from which printed impressions may be taken that will permit of said block being extended or contracted in all directions, whereby it may support and hold and be fitted to plates of different sizes.

-My invention consists in certain features and parts and combinations of features and parts, as herein described.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents in plan one embodiment of my invention in which four corner-pieces or" the printers block are brought together at their inner edges to form a base for supporting a small plate from which printed impressions may be taken. Fig. 2 is a similar view of a slightly-larger base, showing the four corners extended by an interposed cross formed of one longitudinal and two transverse strips. Fig. 3 illustrates in plan the interposed strips of the size used in Fig. 2, but showing the cross-strip in one piece and two longitudinally-extending strips. views of strips, but of slightly-larger size than those shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 illustrates a cross-section as taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a similar view to Fig. 2, but showing the interposed material in the form of an integral cross. Fig. 7 is a detail in plan of the integral cross shown in Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is a similar view of a cross-shaped piece having slightly-wider arms than the one shown in Figs. 6 and 7.

Similarletters represent like parts in all the figures.

A, B, C, andD represent four corner-pieces of myimproved extension or expansible printers block or base. On one side and one end of the block--as, for example, on the outer side edges of the blocks B D and on the end edges of the blocks 0 Dare plates provided Fig. l. shows similar with hooked flanges a a, the hooked portions of said flanges overlapping the faces of the blocks B, D, and G. On the opposite sides or edges of the block or base to the hooked flanges a are adjust-able hooks I), each hook forming part of the sleeve 0, through which passes a rotatable screw (1, which has no longitudinal movement. The sleeve 0 is inelosed and guided in a cut-away portion e in the look. A wheel f, secured to the screw (Z, provides means for turning said screw. The flanges a and the adjustable hook I) constitute opposing members for clamping a plate 011 the base or block. The top of the block or base is provided with recesses or grooves g, extending, respectively, on either side of the wheels f, and I prefer to have an outer wall 7L for said recess on the corner-pieces A B O D, as shown in the drawings. The upper portion of the periphery of said wheel extends a little above the bottom of the groove g, and said periphery is toothed to form a ratchet. This construction enables the wheel f to be more easily turned by means of a rack-piece (not shown) engaging with the teeth of the wheel f, the groove g serving to retain and guide said rack and prevent its slipping oil? the wheels and of running the risk of damaging the plate. The bottom of the groove g, which is integral with the block, constitutes the track for saidrack. The rotation of said wheel, and consequently the rotation of the screw, serves to adjust the sleeve 0, with its hook b, longitudinally 011 said screw. The stereotype, electrotype, or other plate that is to be held. on the base or block has two of its edges inserted under the hooked flanges a. Then the hooks b are adj usted along the screw (1, so as to clamp the edges of the plate opposite to the hooks a, when the plate will be held firmly in place.

E and E are strips or cross-pieces to be inserted between the inner ends of the pieces A B C D to increase the length of the plateholder or base, and F F are other strips for insertion between the inner edges of the pieces A B O D to increase the width of the plate-holder. (See Fig. 2.) In said figure I have shown two strips E and one strip F to the plate-holder. It will be seen that the strips when properly inserted between the corner-pieces form a cross, and this cross may be made .made in one or more parts, as desired, so long as it serves to be inserted between the inner edges of the pieces A B O D to extend the area of the plate-holder or block in both directions. That part of the upper surface of the cross in line with the depression 9 is on the same plane with the bottom of said groove to permit the movement back and forth of the rack-piece above referred to on all of said wheels. I have shown in the drawings the cross recessed or cut away, as at z, the surface of such part being in the same plane with the bottom of the groove or recess 9 and the recess 1' having no outer boundary-walls that would be likely to break oif, and thus leave a rough or ragged track for the rack-piece. In Figs. 6, 7, and S I have shown the cross as integral. The cross G in Fig. 7 has narrow arms, so as to extend the base or holder only slightly, as shown in Fig. 6, and the cross G, Fig. 8, has wider arms, so as to make a base of greater area than that shown in Fig. 6. When either of the arms of the cross G is quite wide, it will be evident that the ends of said arms may be provided with clamp a b, so as to better hold a large plate.

From the above it will be seen that a plateholder or base with just the usual parts of an unextended holder may be readily extended or contracted to any desired size and with a comparativelysmall number of plane extending strips.

My improved base or block may be made of Wood, iron, or any other suitable material.

Of course it is also evident that certain details of my extension block or base may be varied without departing from my invention.

The entire block or base, including the interposing strips or pieces, is adapted to be held together in the chase or frame used on printing-presses by the furniture of the chase in a manner well known in the art.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A block or base for holding a plate from which printed impressions may be taken,

said block or base having four separable corners, all constructed to be brought together, an interposed strip or strips extending infour different directions from a center and separating all of said corner-pieces from each other, and said block provided with opposing clamping members, extending above its upper surface, one of such members having means for adjusting it relative to its opposing member, the tops of the corner-pieces provided with a recessed track on either side of the operating means for the adjustable member, and two of the diverging interposed strips between the corner-pieces provided with recesses on their ends having no outward boundary-walls, and the bottoms of said recesses forming continuations of the tracks in the corner-pieces, all substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. Ablock or base for holding a plate from which printed impressions may be taken,

said block or base having four separable corners, all constructed to be brought together, an integral interposed strip or strips extending in four diiferent directions from a center and separating all of said corner-pieces from each other, and said block provided with opposing clamping members, extending above its upper surface, one of such members having means for adjusting it relative to its opposing member, the tops of the corner-pieces provided with a-recessed track on either side of the operating means for the adjustable member, and two of the diverging interposed strips between the corner-pieces provided with recesses on their ends having no outward boundary-walls, and the bottoms of said recesses forming continuations of the tracks in the corner-pieces, all substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

SIDNEY M. WVEATHERLY. lVitnesses:

J. Lnwls NATTER, PENNINGTON HALSTED. 

